The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-02-24
PHASE OF CLUB LIFE.
,r ,nlosYNcRASlES OF VARIOUS
TYPICAL MEMBERS.

noo who Arc to DO Found In Every
.,.,housc-Thc GROWER. the Gossiper
,,,e Newspaper Ficnd-other Queer
ones
;5iosyncrasies Of members form a
4', INNS, 10 club life. A. prominent typo
COM ,.ti,utional GROWER and his oppo.
a.t.e easy going good natured man who IS
t..i with everything Generally grow
..-, Che most numerous They are never
.r.l with anything, though while COM
'-.r- they never suggest remedy Tho
I,,.,r~ never makes any allowance for
.. or accidents. His chief grievance
.-,,. The walters, who are slow, careless
4 His orders are always filed contrary
b. directions. vet investigation reveals
.ftt.re was any carelcssncSs 10 was his
,,r1t giving explicit instructions. He
.r,sys get everything he wants much
-..,-srl cheaper outside Of the club. He
...uv threatens 20 resign, but never
ia regularly predicts tho decline and
,-.,u Of the club. He soon alenates the
.'-,sl esteem Of the better class of menu
sri the others quietly mako n butt OF
a., and he takes their good humored defer
,.,l.s sadly ventilated IDEAS rs an evil
i.-.. ~ hi, popularity and Importance OF
..-.. they are only "guying' him, as Adonis
would -ay.
M, Good natured apologist is an offset 20
,t.--.,'.r. and at the same time as much Of
.....,..r nuisance. as me always sounds the
.,,s ..i. .r.minate praises, and only needs
,-o.f.roa tO deliver q little Grafton on this
o-+..t ,.l'act that happens 10 be under dis
.-..r m bis opinion the club is the best
-l,...anta-, iu the world. The gossiper
..4tt.r.ox is. of course, found in the
c,gi- Uat Ie s, more speedily eXunguiShed IN
n.r.,ra community than i'm the village by
,,sr.raI ceu,uc As long as he confines him
ss-r-9 detailing the scandals i'm other clubs or
of.o.etv he generally has following whom
b.a,1u>.s and interests by his rocitals. which
ora invariably inaccurate His tendency,
however leads him to rccur 20 jocular scenes
In the club which by tacit consent all the
rar-..iuauts seek 10 keep private, and so he
involve. himself in explanations which gem
sr.. result I'm his reform Tom prudential
motive, or his resignation because he has
mora enemies than friends i'm the club. When
b.eortr4ctS the uugeutlemanlv and lnavish
babt of ovcrheariug conversations and after
ward arniliny 10 the subject he wears a rope
which soon fguratively hangs him.
orHE NEWSPAPER UEND."
There is also the newspaper fiend," who
sIf,llv gathers all the papers or latest maya
zine, about him. The disputatious member,
who always disagrees is soon so emphatically
-,at down upon that he subsidies. The man
who seeks % back all Of his assertions or TO
settle au questions by bets is generally en-
trapped by the sportive, iocular element, 50
that he soon learns wisdom and prudence.
The membership may he divided into three
classes. The sedate, the conventional, and the
progressive i'm the younger clubs, and into
two I'm The moro orthodox clubs, the conser-
vatye and tho progressive As a rule mem
b.r, frequent their clubs for social recrea-
tn. o. commune with their friends therein,
% read tho papers or magazines, 20 while
AMY the time I'm the billiard or card room,
and each develops an individuality that is
soon recognized, sOthat it is safe TO predict
iu,, what hair he will occuDv, what course
hewu take ON coming in, whether he Will
seek the seclusion of the library or the "life'
Of the billiard room, which is generally the
liyeie.t place in the club The various
NNrI~ Il IIlH l.lll' Nhtllllull4tf away NAA'A
association These lotteries are duh or
vivac.ous according TO their personality.
There is always a circle about the raconteur
In clubs where there are pianos there is
generally singing and playing i'm the evening
The piano j, not permitted in the orthodox
club, 10 sayors Of the concert hall There
is often some very good playing and singing
40 these imp0mptu musicales. The chOruscs
are especially stirring For the time the
musical c0terie rules, but they seldom become
Objectionable. unless 10 the chronic GROWER.
The accommodations enable each coterie TO
keep 10 themselves if so disposed; that is,
those who wish quiet can secure it in the
library or parlos There is generally a com
mon resort. and there the piano is generally
situated and liquid refreshments are served.
General gool'e.lowship prevails here. The
stories are told for the edificatOn of all. The
conventional uudertone of general converse
ton is not observed. Every one talks pro
bono Uubico. or at all events thinks he does.
il there is any musical talent it is developed.
Everybody is pleased al the informal gather
Ing except the gOwer. He IS unceremoni-
ous.v made the butt of the crowd
THE BAN OF MUCH MAIL.
lA'It lh ONO olucI member WHO tlNdJS IL
ceiyes good naturcd shot from all whom he
offend, Ie IS the one who has so large a
mail that the box bearing his initials is al
ways crowded with his letters. As a rule, the
mail in "a club is comparatively light con-
sderins the membership, as only the limited
number of lrequentmg members have their
letters addressed there. The letter fiend is
tle companion of the newspaper fiend. He is /
gmeraya retired business man, and not a
literary member, as might be supposed. Not |
outstanding the check system there is al /
ways some good natured dispute about ex-
changed hats and umbrellas, and once I'm
While the overcoats get mixed-generally /.
after delivery-and strange documents are /
found in the pockets the next morning. The /.
near sighted men do not make the absurd .
mistake, that are generally attributed TO them, /
but they contribute their quota to the general .
amusement by their unconscious laundering. /
I. 81 4 4.